Knitted stocking and method for making the same



A118. 19, 1941- H. E. HOUSEMAN 2,252,768 KNITTED STOCKING AND METHOD.FOR MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb. 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Shae? l 86% F763. Hw-

FIG-Z g- 19, 1941- H. E. HOUSEMAN 2,252,768

KNITTED STOCKING AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb. 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ML flara f 625.5912 czzz Aug. 19, 1941. I H. E. HOUSEMAN KNITTED STOCKING AND ME'IlFIOD FOR MAKING THE SAME 7 Filed Feb. 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet M7 k /69 w m B 47 I m6: 1 4 J g 84 m2 7 1 i s; 6/

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WM/ i 1 fl dfgaseman Patented Aug. 19, 1941 'UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTED STOCKING AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME Harold E. Houseman, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott and Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. 11., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 15, 1940, Serial No. 318,977

15 Claims;

This invention relates to a knitted stocking and method and machine for making the same, with particular reference to a stocking in which ribs are provided in the heel'and/or toe thereof. Stockings have been heretofore knit by hand or on hand apparatus in the form of ribbed tubes closed at one end, generally by the use of a heavy yarn and with ribs of quite heavy construction.' In such stockings no attempt is made to define a' heel, but actually such stockings conform very well to the foot because of the high elasticity of the rib structure. This is particularly true when, as is usual, the ribs are arranged in spiral formation through the stocking. Such stockings are generally soldfor the use of skiers.

It is the broad object of the present invention to provide a machine made stocking which, though preferably provided with a heel pocket, contains ribs throughout substantially its entire extent, which aid very substantially in improving the fit of the stocking, giving the impression of a snug, soft fit. Briefly stated, the ribs, preferably extend not only through the leg and foot of the stocking, but through the narrowed and (01. 66-185) A ure showing a modified transfercam arrangewidened portions of both the heel and toe of the stocking, being interrupted onlyat the sutures.

Further objects of the invention, relating primarily to the provision of a method and machine for the manufacture of such stockings will be apparent from thefollowing description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 4 3

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a preferred form of stocking constructed in accordtrolling sliders carrying knittingand transfer butts;

'Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating in developed form the inner surfaces of various cams of the machine;

Figure 6 illustrates in elevation the form of upper and lower sliders used in the machine;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view similar to Figment for the production of the stocking of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing modified sliders adapted to be used with the cams of Figure 7; and I Figure 9 is a fragmentary diagram resembling Figure 4 but showing the transfer butts on sliders used with the cams of Figure 7.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is illustrated therein a preferred type of stocking formed in accordance with the invention and to which the disclosure of the method and apparatus described herein is made specifically vapplicable. This stocking comprises a welt 2, which comprises a series of courses surmounting a rib top 4 in which a conventional 1x1 rib arrangement may be embodied, which rib top' in tum surmounts a ribbed leg portion 6, which, as specifically illustrated in Figure 1, and as described in connection with the method and machine, is of the well known English broad rib or 6x3 rib type. The plain stitch portions 8 are six wales wide, while the depressed ribs III are three wales wide, the ribs being due, as is usual, to the reverse fashion in which the loops of the contrasting fabric portions are interlinked. For simplicity of illustration, the machine in the present case is shown as of single feed type, and consequently the leg may be considered as formed at one feed.

Generally, however, these machines are provided with two feeds, and the legs are formed at the two feeds with resulting rapidity of production. In actual practice, therefore, the stocking would generally have its leg formed at two feeds.

The formationof the leg is continued in conventional fashion until the line i2 is reached, whereupon the instep needles are] raised out of action in conventional fashion and reciprocatory knitting is begunwith the formation of the narrowed heel pocket on the sole needles. As speci Y fically illustrated in Figure 1, there are five ribs on each side of the stocking in the instep. Below these there are three'ribs designated l4, l8 and 20 on each side of the stocking, while at the bottom of the stocking, oneach side thereof,

there are provided two other ribs. All five ribs on eachiside of the stocking at the bottom therea of are continued during the reciprocatory knitting at the beginning of the heel pocket. As sole needles are picked up out of action in the narrowing portion, there must naturally be picked up the needles forming the rib. 14 so that they place.

may take part in forming the heel suture. Before the necessity for this arises these rib forming needles are transferred from the upper to the lower cylinder of the machine, and the rib I4 is interrupted at l6 one or two courses before the first of the needles forming that rib must be elevated out of action. Similarly," when their respective times for inaction approach, the needles of the ribs l8 and are raised out of action. The narrowing is completed before the necessity for interrupting the ribs at the bottom of the stocking arises.

The widening of the heel pocket then takes One or two courses after the needles forming the lowermost interrupted rib on each side of the stocking are restored to action, the needles forming this rib are raised to the upper cylinder, with the resulting continuation of the rib 20 at 24. Similarly, the rib I8 is continued at 26 and rib I4 is continued at 28. The heel pocket is then completed along the course indicated at 30. whereupon rotary knitting is resumed' to form the foot 32 with the full set of ribs.

Just prior to the beginning of reciprocatory knitting to form the toe, for example, two courses before reciprocatory knitting begins, the formation of the ribs in.the instep is interrupted at 34 by the transfer of the needles forming these ribs from the upper to the lower cylinder of the machine, thus forming one or more rotary courses in which, while the ribs are continued in the sole, plain fabric is knit at 45 in the instep. 7

The instep needles are then again moved out of action. Reciprocatory knitting begins as in the formatlon'of the heel, and again the three uppermost ribs on each side of the sole portion of the stocking are successively interrupted, as indicated at 36, 38 and 40, prior to the Picking up of their needles. Following this, the widening operation takes place with the formation of prior to the resumption of rotary knitting. The

improved stocking is formed, so much of the Bentley machine is illustrated herein in diagrammatic fashion as to show the essential changes in the conventional machine required for carrying out the improved method to produce the stocking-illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure 8, there are illustrated therein the lower cylinder 42 and upper cylinder44 of a Bentley machine. These cyl-' lnders, which are driven in unison during both rotation and reciprocation, are provided with aligned slots in their exterior surfaces within 4 which are adapted to slide double ended needles,

- indicated at 46, having upper -and, lower hooks 48 and- 58, respectively, with cooperating latches.

Also slidable within the slots, but remaining in their respective cylinders, are upper sliders 52 and lower sliders 54, which are held in position by spring bands, not illustrated. The upper sliders 52 carry transfer butts indicated at 58, auxiliary transfer butts indicated at 51 and knitting butts indicated at 58, while the lower sliders carry transfer butts indicated.- at 68, auxiliary "fashion for the formation of stitches. In order to control the sliders for the proper transfer of the needles, there is provided at the height of the separation between the cylinders a separating cam 66, which has the form indicated in my Patent No. 2,170,078, in which patent there are dethe suture 3-5 and transfer of the rib needles scribed in detail the construction and operation of this cam in effecting transfer. The transfer operations, with slight changes described herein, are essentially the. same as described inmy said patent.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated in interior development the arrangement of cams for controlling the sliders in the upper and lower cylinders.

- Besides the cams which are illustrated in Figure 5 there are provided the usuallatch guarding cams and other conventional cams and devices which have only their conventional functions in the present machine. The sinker cams are also first complete rotary knit course is, as usual,"the-- loopers loose course, and following its formation, there are formed the loopers rounds. To finish the stocking stitching takes place as usual with the trimming off of the loopers rounds.

.While, if desired,'the ribs may be continued through the loopers loose course, and the subsequent loopers rounds, placing of the fabric on the loping Points is facilitated if plain fabric is produced.

The stocking so produced is quite elastic throughout its entire structure, giving a snug fit at the heels and toes without binding.

Before discussing the variations of this stocking within'the scope of the invention, there will be'first described the methodof its formation upon the'doublecylinder type of machine commonly' used for the production of the so-called English broad r b. This machine is of the well known Bentley type, as illustrated for example in Spiers Patent 1,210,866, Bentley Patents 1,713,736 and 2,045,938, and Deans Patent conventional and need notbe specifically described.

Adapted to cooperate with the lower ,sliders there are the center cam 88, adapted to engage long and short knitting butts and the stitch cams Above these are respectively located the raising pickers 74 and 16 of conventional type adapted to raise short butt sliders during reciprocatory knitting. Located at the main feed are the yarn fingers 47. v

A main lower transfer cam is illustrated at 84, this transfer cam being similar to the lower transfer cam described in my said patent. Likewise, a conventional upper main transfer cam is provided. 'Auxiliary transfer cams 86 and 81 are additionally provided in the present case to operate on the auxiliary transfer butts 6i and 51 for the purpose of securing selective transfers. Cam surfaces 88 and 89 serve to restore the slidersto proper positions after a transfer action takes place, either through the main or auxiliary transfer cams. It will be noted that 2,101,494. In order to better indicate how the 7 th ams 85 and 8 a e sli htly bey nd t p knitting cams at the feed. A long butt slider lowering cam 94, which is movable radially, is provided for the purpose of bringing down long butt sliders to an active level.

A guard cam 96 insures the location of slider butts in position to either engage the picker 16 or pass properly through the cams at the ,feed.

98 is the forward stitch clearing cam, while cams 99 and I03 effect this function in reverse movements. The lowering picker I04 is provided in the position illustrated.

The upper set of cams comprises an upper center cam I08 followed by the forward stitch cam III) and earns H2 and H4 adapted to clear the stitches. At I24 there is provided a radially movable slider elevating cam which, in its outer position will fail to engage any butts and in its inner position will engage all knitting butts of the upper sliders. a second radially movable cam I26 which has a lower recessed portion adapted to engage long butts only when the cam is in its active position. When withdrawn, it fails to engage any butts. Cooperating with the sliders in theirreverse movements are the slider raising cam I32 corresponding to cam I24 and the recessed long butt lowering cam I34 corresponding to I26. This cam I34, however, is not radially movable, but occupies a fixed position in which it serves to lower long butt sliders only. A reverse stitch cam I36 is provided and clearing of the latches by stitches is effected by cams I38 and I40.

Of the various cams described above, cams 84, 85, 86 and 81 are controlled in conventional fashion from theusual pattern drum cams or, if more elaborate pat erns are being produced, from conventional chains. of the lower series of cams, cams 92 and 94 are radially movable, as described. The movements of this cam are controlled from the conventional cam drum in the usual fashion. f the upper cams, cams I24, I26 and use have alreadybeen described as radially movable. In addition, cams H2 and I38 Immediately following this is are radially movable between outer positions in which they fail to engage any butts and inner positions in which they may engage butts of either length. These various radially movable cams are controlled in uite conventional fashion from the main cam drum of the machine through links and levers which need not be described. The radial slidirg movements of cam 92 are controlled in the same fashion.

To secure the proper control of needles for the formation of the stocking described herein, the upper and lower sliders have butts provided as indicated in Figure 4-. The needles'may be considered as divided into two series, a long butt series to form the instep, and a short butt series to form the sole of the stocking. The needles themselves are not provided with the long and short butts, but rather the sliders associated with them. Preferably, and as indicated specifically herein, equal number of needles are provided in the two groups on opposite sides of the center line I62.

Referring first to the knitting butts 62 of the lower sliders, all of the instep sliders are provided with long butts I44. All of the sliders of 1:12: sole series are provided with short butts The upper sliders of the instep series are provided with long butts I 50, while the upper sliders clifszthe soleseries are provided with short butts The upper sliders are either provided with no main transfer butts as indicated at I 54, with longmain transfer butts, as indicated at I56, or with short main transfer butts indicated at I". In the present case, the short transfer butts I66 occur only on the sliders of the instep series adapted to control needles for the formation of ribs. The arrangements of these butts will be apparent from Figure 4. Because of the knitting of 1 x 1 rib, every alternate upper slider must have either a main or auxiliary transfer butt. If a short transfer butt or an auxiliary transfer butt does not occur thereon, then a long transfer butt is provided.

The lower sliders corresponding to upper sliders which do not carry transfer butts are also lacking in transfer butts, as indicated at I62. Every alternate lower slider carries a long main transfer butt I64. Lower sliders which do not carry the butts I64, but which correspond in position to the rib sliders of the upper series carry short transfer butts I66. In Figure 4 the groupings of needles and sliders forming rib and plain stitches in the formation of the leg are so indicated.

The auxiliary transfer butts 51 of the upper sliders occur in four lengths, indicated at I61, I68, I69 and I60. The two groups of rib controlling sliders adjacent the dividing line I42 are provided with the longest butts I61, and the next two groups on each side with butts I66 and I69, respectively. The remaining sliders of the sole series corresponding to the ribs in the leg are provided with the shortest butts I60.

Certain lower sliders of the sole series have auxiliary butts provided in the location 6|, as in- 'dicated at I10, I" and I12, these auxiliary butts being respectively of the three different lengths indicated. They are carried on the sliders on both sides of the circle corresponding to the sliders which carry the butts I61, I68 and I69.

The invention will be best understood from specific consideration of these butt set-ups, though it will be evident that variations in the product will require obvious changes therein.

In the operation of the machine to form the stocking of Figure 1, all of the needles following the formation of the previous stocking will be in the lower. cylinder engaged by the lower sliders. The first course or courses may then be knit as plain courses, the needles being controlled by the lower sliders, the knitting butts 62 of which will pass over the cam 12 and then below center cam 68 and stitch cam 10 to take the yarn, being then raised by cam 98 to a level to reengage cam 12.

In order toform a welt 2 and provide for the knitting of the 1 x l rib top, the first transfer of the needles occurs.

As stated previously, every alternate one of the lower sliders is provided with a long transfer butt I 64. To effect the transfer, the transfer cam 84 is moved inward so as to engage only the long butts I64 and miss the short butts I". In the meantime, the upper sliders will be moving at their lower level determined by the action of the cam I I4. By reason of the action of cam 84 and the cooperation of the cam 66 with the upper ends of the sliders as described in my' Patent 2,170,078, the needles will be transferred from the lower sliders carrying the long butts I64 to the corresponding upper sliders. The knitting butts of the upper sliders pass upwardly over cam I24 and miss cam I26, which is retracted, to be engaged by cams I08 and III! and then depressed by cams H2 and H4, so that the needles 1 -t hus-transferred will take yarn as well as those needles which remain in the lower cylinder,

and consequently a course having a 1 x 1 rib will be provided. As soon as the transfer is completed,

however, the cam H2 is withdrawn, whereupon the needles in the upper cylinder will not be caused to move downwardly to cause their loops to clear their latches, and, as cam I38 is in retracted position, the. knitting butts of the upper sliders will then move substantially at a constant level through the cams (being only slightly raised by cam III!) and will not take yarn. The yarn feeds norrrially to the needles remaining in the lower cylinder. .Thus there may be produced a few courses during which loops are held on the needles in the upper cylinder. The result is the knitting of the welt 2. I

It may be pointed. out here that during all phases of the operation, sliders which do not carry needles pass idly through the knitting waves along with those which do control needles.

The knitting of the rib top 4 may then be begun merely bypermitting the-cam II2 to move into its active position, this operation taking place in steps by having it first move inwardly as the short knitting butts I52 of the upper sliders are passing it, and it will move to its full inward position as soon as it is cleared by these: short butts and depresses the long butts I58. By the action ofthe cam H2 and its continuation I It, the upper cylinder needles are caused to clear their loops. The path of the knitting butts of the upper sliders will then be below the cams I I2 and H4, over cams I24, I68 and III], during passage by the-last of'whichthe needles take yarn.

- plain stitched parts 8 and rib I0. The cam 84 is moved all the way in to engage the transfer butts of all of the lower sliders.v The transfer cam 85 is moved inward so as to engage only the longest transfer butts I56 of the upper sliders. "Accordingly, a double transfer occurs. As the lower sliders ride up the cam 84, all of the needles remaining in the lower cylinder and engaged by sliders having transfer butts I66 are transferred to the upper cylinder. (The needles corresponding to sliders having butts I64 are already in the upper cylinder.) Immediately, however, the longest butts I56 of the upper sliders are engaged by the transfer cam 85 and consequently, the needles corresponding to' such upper sliders are transferred to the lower cylinder. Study of Figure 4 will reveal that this action will result in having in the lower cylinder groups of six needles with intermediate groups of three needles each in the upper cylinder.. Continued knitting,

therefore, will, result in the production of the 6 x3 rib leg which is illustrated. At this point, it

ticularly with a double feed to the needles to elaborate designs. It will understood, therefore, that the reference to 6 x 3 rib at this point and in connection with the further discussions of the rib areas is only for purposes of illustration and that there is possible great variation in the production of structural and design modifications.

In order to begin the knitting of the heel, the

rotary knitting is changed to reciprocatory knitaction of cam 92, the needles of the long butt series in the lower cylinder ar raised to an inactive position wherein they will fail to take yarn.

' The cam I26 effects the lowering of the needles of the long butt series in the upper cylinder in each forward reciprocation to a position in which these needles will fail to take yarn. In each reverse reciprocation this same function is performed by cam I34. Thus only the short butt sliders of both the upper and lower series will pass through the knitting waves.

It will be noted that on each side of the cylinder adjacent theinstep needles thereare two needles of the sole series knitting plain fabric. Since the lowering pickers now come into action, the needles in these positions will be picked up successively in conventional fashion. However, it will be noted that the next three needles on each side are in the upper cylinder at the beginning of the formation of the heel, and, since these needles must be rendered inactive, they are made ion, the lowering picker I04 being rendered ac- I produce'plating, there can be produced quite subject to the picker action by being transferred to the lower cylinder either as the reciprocatory knitting is begun or during the formation of the first course thereof. To this end the auxiliary transfer cam 8'! is moved inward by one step to engage only the longest transfer butts I61 of the upper sliders.

Thus the ribs corresponding to these needles are interrupted, as indicated at I6, before the necessity for picking the corresponding needles arises. 4

As reciprocation proceeds, ther will be approached for picking action the needles corresponding to the sliders having butts I68. One

or two courses before the first of these needles is due to be picked up, transfer cam 81' is moved inwardly another step to engage the butts, I68 to lower the corresponding needles. This action is again repeated when the needles corresponding to the sliders having butts I69 are due to be picked up. Thus the ribs I4, I8 and 20 are interrupted just short of the formation of the suture 22 in the completed heel. Since the narrowing is not carried out in the region of the needles corresponding to the sliders having butts I60, there is no necessity for interrupting the ribs corresponding thereto, i. e., at the extreme rear of the heel.

Following completion of the narrowing operation, widening takes place in conventional fashtive to pick down two needles into operative position, while the raising pickers continue to raise one at each stroke. The formations of the ribs which were successivelyinterrupted are now successively resumed. As soon as the' needles corresponding to. the sliders having butts I 68 are restored to active position, the cam 86 is moved inwardly one step to engage the longest butts III of the lower sliders which control these needles,

thereby efiecting their transfer to the upper cylinder to resume the formation of the rib 20,

I as indicated at 24. Likewise, as soon as the next groups of rib forming needles are restored to action, the cam 86 is moved inward another step to engage the butts I'll to transfer the corresponding needles to continue rib I6 at 26. This same action is re ated in due course by the action of cam 86 on the shortest butts I16, the cause .the formation of the rib It to be resumed at 26.

not interrupted, all of the loops having been held along the line indicated at I2 during the formation of the heel.

When the position for the formation of the toe is approached, say two courses before reciprocatory knitting is to'begin, transfer cam 85 is moved inward to engage the short transfer butts I56 of the upper sliders which control the rib needles of the instep series. By this action, the

ribs ID are interrupted. All the needles corresponding to sliders having long transfer butts I66 will already be in the lower cylinder, so that the only action occurring at this time will be the interruption of the ribs in the instep. Thus there are formed one or more rotary knit courses having ribs in the sole portion of the stocking and plain knitting'in the instep.

Reciprocatory knitting and narrowing are again resumed, the instep needles being again moved to an inoperative level, in this case all being raised, since all are in the lower cylinder.

Again successive transfer of the groups of rib needles is effected to interrupt the ribs at 36, 8B and 40, respectively, just short of the formation of the suture line 35. Following completion of the narrowing, widening is resumed, and the. rib needles are restored in successive groups to the upper cylinder to continue the ribs as indicated at ll, 69 and 31.

Just prior to the beginning of rotary knitting, for the formation of theloopers loose course, for example, two courses prior to this time, cam 81 is moved. in to its full extent to effect transfer of all of the rib forming needles to the lower cylinder by engagement with all of the auxiliary transfer butts I61, I68, I69 and I66. Following this action, reciprocatory knitting takes place for one or more further courses to complete the widening operation, and then rotary knitting takes place first to form the loopers loose course and then the loopers rounds.

It will benoted from the above description of the formation of the stocking of Figure 1 that the interruptions of the ribs occurring, for example, at I6, are along courses, 1. e., each wale of the rib is interrupted at-the same course. With narrow ribs formed, for example, on three needles, as in the case of the stocking of Figure 1, this interruption of the entire rib along a single course is not unsatisfactory in the finished stocking; but the result is exaggerated in Figure 1, in which it will be noted that,- theoretically atleast, the ribs will appear to be interrupted along lines not parallel to, but rather diverging from, the suture, inasmuch as the courses diverge from the suture at a considerable angle. If wider ribs are produced, or even if a somewhat better apsirable that the ribs should very closely approach the suture and should be interrupted substantially parallel to the suture. This means that the successive wales of the ribs should be interrupted successively.

The above is illustrated in Figure 2, in which the various interrupted and continued ribs have the same designations as in Figure 1, but ,with the numerals primed. As illustrated in thatfigare, the result will be the interruption of each rib parallel to the suture with the portions of therib on opposite sides of the. suture approaching each other as closely as possible throughout.

the entire width of each 'rib. v v

The stocking of Figure 2 may be produced with a minor modification of the machine set-up previously described.- Such modification is illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, As illustrated in Figure 8, the upper and lower sliders, here designated 52' and 54', are provided not only with knitting butts 56 and 62 and transfer butts 56.,

61', 66' and 6|, but additionally with secondary transfer butts 51" and GI". The machine cams are substantially as before, with the exception that the functions of former cam 81 are now performed by two earns 61 and 81". 81. correwould pass above it if the upper slider is, not depressed by engagement of the cam 81" with the butt 51" of that slider; Similarly, the function of the cam 86 is performed by the two cams 86 and 86", the latter of which, by engagement with butt 6|", may serve to move the butt 6] of 'the same slider into position to engage cam 86 which would'otherwise'be missed thereby.

In Figure 9 there is illustrated the arrange? ment of the different length transfer butts, corresponding, in generaL'to Figure 4, but without repetition of the arrangement of the main transfer butts and the'knitting butts, which are the same as before. The auxiliary transfer butts I61, I68, I69 and I66 correspond to the auxiliary transfer butts I61, I68, I69 and I previously described. Similarly, auxiliary transfer butts I16, I1I' andl12' correspond to butts I1II, HI

and I12 previously described. On'the groups of sliders containing the butts I61 are secondary butts I13 of different lengths, as illustrated. In the case of ribs formed on threeneedles, these need only be of threelengths. If wider ribs are formed, additional lengths are added. Similarly,

the sliders carrying butts I68 and I69 are also transfer butts "0', HI and I12 are also propearance is desired with narrower ribs, it is de- 15 vided with stepped secondary, butts I15, as illustrated.

In the formation of the stocking of Figure-2,-

an of the operations are 'as described previously down to the point of the beginning of thenarrowing to form the heel. 'When the time approaches for the first rib needle to be transferred in order to be picked up out of action in the narrowing operation, the cam 61' is moved into position in which it will engage the longest butts I81 as they are depressed sufficiently. to strike it. The cam 81" is moved inwardly at first only to a suflicient extent to engage the longest butts of the groups I13. During the formation of the forward course in which the transfer of the first needle is to take place, the longest butt of the group I13 corresponding to the butts I 61', will the series of sole needles.

engage the cam 81 and its slider will be depressed to cause the butt I61 thereon to engage cam 81', thus effecting a transfer of one needle. This action occurs, of course, on both sides of While the cam 81" engages the longest butts of the groups I13 corresponding to butts I68 and I69, transfers are not effected thereby because the depression due I to cam 81" is in itself insufllcient to effect a transfer, and the butts I68 and I69 will not be engaged by the cam 81'.

'- In the next forward course, the cam 81" is moved inwardly another step, while cam 81' retains its same position. Thus, as will be evident,

the second needles involved in the formation of "the first ribs on each side of the stocking will be transferred. In the .next forward course, the

cam 81" is moved still further inwardly, to engage the shortest butts of the groups I13.

In this fashion, it will be evident that the ribs reference may be-made particularly to the formation of spiral ribs running throughout the leg and foot portions of the stocking in general imitation of the hand knitted ribbed stockings referred to above." The arrangement of the Wainwright patent is adaptable to the present machine by having the jacks position the sliders in selective fashion to engage the upper transfer cams such as, for example, 81' and 81" which, in addition, can exert a selective action, by reason of their selective positioning to engage transfer butts of diiferent lengths. Thus spiral ribs or the like may be interrupted at sutures, either along courses or in stepped fashion parallel tosutures, as described above. v

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

have their successive wales interrupted in successive forward courses, with a resulting terruption of the rib as a whole along a line par lie] to the suture to be formed. In the finished stocking each successive rib wale terminates two courses beyond the termination of the preceding one since transfer is effected only in forward movements. However, this terminates the ribs I curs due to the successive engagement of the cam 86" with the different length butts I15, with 1. A knitted stocking comprising a tubular portion and a pouch portion, both of said portions containing ribs, and said pouch portion having a suture interrupting the continuity of ribs therein. 7

2. A knitted stocking comprising integrally knitted leg and'fashioned pouch portions, said pouch portion being formed by reciprocatory knitting and comprising sections united by a suture, said stocking having a multiple wale rib structure which is continuous from the leg portion into the pouch portion, certain of the ribs extending without interruption through the pouch while others are interrupted by the suture.

3. A knitted stocking comprising a leg portion and a fashioned .pouch portion formed by recipr'ocatory knitting andhaving a suture-therein, both the leg portion and fashioned pouch portion being provided with design structure comprising selectively concatenated plain and reverse knit..-

- loops, each wale of said pouch portion which excorresponding selective action of the cam 88' to render it capable of engaging butts of the groups I12, III and I10, respectively. It will be evi--- dent that. this action will result in resumption of the formation of the ribs along lines parallel to the suture.

This same type of action is repeated at the toe, both in the narrowing and widening operations. As a consequence, in the finished product, the ribs appear substantially continuous, save for narrow interruptions at the sutures.

As in the modification of Figure 1, the instep ribs are interrupted one or more courses before the beginning of the reciprocatory knitting to form the toe. Prior to the ending of the reciprocatory knitting at the completion of the toe, both cams 81' and 81" are moved inwardly to their full extents to engage the auxiliary and secondary series of butts. Thus it will be evident from the set-up in Figure 9 that all of the rib needles of the sole series will be simultaneously transferred to the lower cylinder for the resumption of plain knitting. Following the completion of the reciprocatory knitting, rotary knitting is then resumed, as described in connection with the previous modification.

While ribs have been referred to throughout the description, it will be evident that various types of. designs may be provided by the use, for example, of the mechanism illustrated in Wainwright Patent 2,070,762. By the use of the mechanism of this patent and the provision of jacks above the upper sliders, patterning of quite elaborate types may be readily accomplished. In

connection with the stocking herein described, 7 '7. A knitted stockmgcomprising leg, foot an tends to said suture having only plain knit loops taking part in formation of the suture.

4. A knitted stockingcomprising a .leg portion and a fashioned pouch portion formed by reciprocatory knitting and having a suture therein, both the leg portion and fashioned pouch portion containing plain and reverse knit loops forming ribs, each wale of said pouch portion which extends to said suture having only plain knit loops taking part in formation of the suture.

5. A knitted stocking comprising a leg portion and a fashioned pouch portion formed by recip- Y rocatory knitting and having a suture therein, both the leg portion and fashioned pouch portion containing plain and reverse knit loops forming multiple wale ribs, each wale of said pouch portion which extends to said suture hav-' the foot portion in front of the heel portion, and v said leg, heel and foot portions having other multiple wale ribs extending continuously from the leg portion through the heel portion and into the foot portion, and having further multiple wale ribs extending from the leg portion into the heel portion and being interrupted at said sutures and extending from the opposite sides of said sutures from the heel portion into the foot portion.

reciprocatory knitting and having narrowed and widened parts joined along side sutures, said foot and toe portions having multiple wale'ribs extending continuously from the foot portion through the front of the toe portion, and having further multiple wale ribs extending from the foot portion into the narrowed part of the toe portion and being interrupted at said sutures and ex.- tending from the opposite sides of said sutures through the widened part of the toe portion.

8. A knitted stocking comprising a pouch portion having narrowed and widened parts oined by side sutures, said narrowed and widened parts having aligned multiple wale ribs interrupted by said sutures and having other continuous multiple wale ribs running across the ends of said sutures.

9. A knitted stocking comprising a leg portion and a fashioned pouch portion formed by reciprocatory'knitting and having a suture therein, both the leg portion and fashioned'pouch portion containing plain and reverse knit loops forming multiple wale ribs, each wale of said pouch portion which extends to said suture having only plain knit loops taking part in formation of the suture, and each'rib terminating adjacent the suture substantially parallel to the suture.

10. The method of circularly knitting a stocking comprising knitting a narrowed part of a pouch portion thereof by reciprocatory knitting of courses of successivelyshorter length leaving suture forming loops at the ends of wales, there being formed during such knitting ribs of multiple wale width, successively interrupted before the formation of suture forming loops in their wales,

11. The method of knitting a stocking compris ing knitting a leg portion while selectively reversely concatenating loops to produce a multiple wale rib structure, and forming integrally with tions which are joined by sutures while selectively concatenating loops to produce a multiple wal rib structure interrupted at the sutures. e 12. The method of knitting a stocking comprising knitting by reciprocatory knitting a fashioned pouch having narrowed and widened 7 portions joined along a suture, while reversely' concatenating loops providing loops of different types to form design structure in the formation of courses containingloops which are knit into said suture, all of the loops knit into said suture being concatenated in the same directionwith preceding loops.

13. A knitted stocking comprising a pouch portion fornied of narrowed and widened sections joined by a suture and knit by reciprocatory knitting, said sections containing, in courses which contain loops knit into said suture, reversely concatenated loops forming design structure. all of the loops knit into said suture being concatenated in the same direction with preceding loops.

l 14. A knitted stocking comprising a pouch poring suture forming loops at the, ends of wales,

forming during such knitting ribs of multiple wale width, interrupting such ribs successively before the formation of suture forming loops in the leg portion a fashioned pouch containing sec- I their wales, knitting a widened part of the pouch portion by reciprocatory knitting of courses of suture.

HAROLD E. H OUSEMAN. 

